Road safety signs that say go faster

THE MAYOR of a small Côte-d'Or village has defended road safety signs that are best described as “unconventional”.

The signs, which read: “There are still children to crush - you can speed up”, installed in Bretenières south of Dijon, were installed about four months ago, and have prompted numerous outraged letters to local newspapers, Metronews reports.

But Hervé Bruyère, who was elected mayor in last year’s local elections, said that the signs were a last resort after every other attempt to slow down speeding motorists on a perfectly straight section of road through the centre of the village had failed.

Mr Bruyère said the signs were intended to be ironic, but told France TV Info: “We chose communication rather than information.”

He explained: “The slogan was suggested by a communications assistant before being adopted after an informal discussion.

“Some were against it, fearing that it would encourage drivers to accelerate. But, frankly, that would be stupid.”

Bienvenue à #Bretenière ! pic.twitter.com/jnFKBMUUTa— Ludovic Civodul (@Luudoovic) March 5, 2015

Earlier attempts to slow down vehicles, including installing speed bumps outside the village school and introducing a 30kph zone had little effect, he said.

“Motorists sometimes drive at between 70kph and 80kph. The village is quiet, but I have seen several near misses,” he added.

Mr Bruyère said that he was surprised to see that news of the signs had been picked up in national media in France, but said that he hoped it would prompt a debate about road safety.

He also admitted that early indications suggested the signs were not having the desired effect, but he was considering other traffic calming measures.

He said: “I still think about how we can improve things. Why not chicanes?”

Photo: lebienpublic / Twitter